Tape moistener



R. l. MEADER TAPE MoIsTENER Oct'. 4, 1932.

Filed Deo. 13, 1929 By lomeys,

hm, fnww Patented Oct. 4, 1932 FFICE RALPH I. MEADER, OF LYNBROOK, NEW YORK TAPE MOISTENER Application led December 13, 1929. Serial No. 413,722.

This invention relates to a device for moistening a strip or tape of paper or fabric such, for example, as the printed strip coming y from a telegraphic tape printer. It is usual to employ a gummed tape on which to print telegraphic messages or the like, and to moisten this tap-e and attach it to a sheet such as a message blank. For this purpose a lian-d implement is employed, through 1G which the tape is passed and by which it is moistened as the operator carries it down onto the blank, line after line. It often happens, especially after completing one message and before beginning to paste on another, that the gummed end of the tape which has been carried through the moistener and has been moistened, gets too dry to make it adhere to the blank; and in such case it is necessary to moisten it on a sponge or in some similar way in order to start thegumming down of the next message. rfhe present invention provides an improved and more convenient device for this purpose.

The device comprises a water cup or reservoir, a wick for taking up moisture therefrom, and means for guiding the tape to be moistened over the exposed upper surface of the wick in such manner that the tape will be pressed against the wick and receive sufficient moisture therefrom. The device is adapted for attachment at the side of the table or desk at which the operator sits, so as to be conveniently located for instant use.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure l is a side elevation of the device as fastened to the table for use.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the device partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 in Fig. l.

F 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 in Fio. 2. b

F ig. -is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section through the spindle and its casing.

Fig. 't' is a horizontal section of a portion of the device on the line 7-7 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the push button and cam.

The moistening device comprises a main casing A which may have ears a, a, by which it may be screwed or fastened to the side of a table B, as shown in Fig. l. The casing A is formed with a well or reservoir C for receiving a suitable supply of water. The casing A also is formed with a vertical passage D for holding a wick E. rlhe reservoir C and passage D communicate through an opening Z). The passage Dis open at the top, so that the wick E may project upwardly therefrom as shown in Figs. 3` and 5. Parallel to the passage D is another vertical passage F which likewise communicates at-its lower portion with thereservoir C by an opening b and is open at its top. The outer casing A is formed, preferably integrally with the reservoir and wick passage, with aV spindle casing G which 79 is conveniently supported on an integral bracketarm c, and which may desirably have a shelf-like arm d projecting from its upper part. The spindle casing G is tubular and houses an oscillatory hub L from which projects an arm or rod H. This arm is mounted to swing through an arc of preferably degrees from its retracted position under and protected by the shelf d, to a position adjacent t-he exposed upper end of the wick E. 8 For so swinging it7 a push-button I on a rod or spindle g is provided, so that on pressing down the push-button as shown in Fig. 3, motion is communicated to swing the arm H toward the wick, while on releasing the p-ush- 85 button a spring causes it to fly back to its original position. l

In operation, the water reservoir being filled and the wick moist therefrom, the opn erator passes the end of the tape which it is 9 desired to meisten over the top of the wick with one hand and presses down the button I with the other, so that the arm H swings over the tape and holds it as shown in Fig. 3, adjacent to andbeneath the wick, so that as the operator then pulls the tape in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, it is carried over' the wick while being pressed down upon it with sufficient firmness to take up moisture r therefrom. As the last of the wick is carried 0' the tape.

through, the operator releases the button I and the arm swings back to its original position, where it is out of the way of the next tape to be inserted.

It is important to keep the arm I-I clean and dry, because the printed face of the tape is carried against it during the moistening. This is acomplished partly by its standing normally under the shelf (Z and remote from the moist wick. lvVhen swung toward the wick, it does not make contact with it, but remains somewhat apart from the wick, as shown in Fig. 5. rIhis is accomplished by notchin@ back the casino at the u) er )art of the passage F, as shown at e, Fig. 5, while leaving sufiicient of the wall on either side of the passage F to stop the arm II and hold it slightly away from the wall of the wick passage D, all as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The portion f of the wall thus remaining consequently serves as a stop to arrest the arm II andr hold it sufliciently away from the wick.

The function of the passage F is to carry oif any excess of moisture that may be squeezed out of the wick by the pressure of The water or gum solution will drain down through this passage into the water beneath. If any gum is washed off from the tape and accumulates against the wick, this flow of water squeezed from the wick will wash it down.

The connection between the push-button I and the hub h carrying the arm I-I may be any convenient mechanical movement such as will transform the downward movement of the push-button into a rotary movement of the hub 7L. -The means shown is a simple and effective one; the tubular hub L through which passes the spindle g is formed with spiral slots z', as shown in Fig. 8, these slots being entered by a cross pin j on the spindle g, .so that as the latter is pressed down, the pin rides down in the slots c', and while being itself held against rotation it forces the hub L to rotate a quarter turn. For holding the spindle g against rotation its lower part is made square and passes through a square hole in the bottoml of the spindle casing Gr. A spring 7c is provided to press up the spindle g and thereby impart return movement to the arm H when the push-button I is raised.

It is desirable to cover over reservoir C by fastening down thereon a cover m which may conveniently be made as a flat plate held down by screws. It is desirable to form .in this cover a depression p formingk a hopper through which wat-er may be poured to replenish the supply in the reservoir. For this purpose the depression p is made as a cup having a notch or slot g at its bottom, through which the entering water may flow into the reservoir, and having preferably another notch r near its top for the escape of air.

The construction shown and described constitutes the preferred embodiment of the inthe top of the vention, but may be varied, as desired, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tape moistener comprising a stationary water vessel and wick holder, and movable means for holding a tape against the wick while being drawn over the wick to meisten it, said means comprising a swinginfr arm movable toward and from the wick, an a rotary member having an operating member, and connected to the arm for so moving it.

2. A tape moistener comprising a casing forming a water reservoir and wick holder, and formed with a spindle casing, and a rotary part in said casing, and an arm projecting from said rotary part and movable toward and from the tape.

3. A tape moistener comprising a casingA forming a reservoir and wick chamber, a

swinging arm movable horizontally toward and from the wick, and a push-button movable vertically and having operative engagement with the arm whereby on pressing the push-button the arm is swung toward the wick.

4. The combination of claim 3, with a spring for swinging the arm away from the wick and restoring the push-button.

5. A tape moistenercomprising a casing having a reservoir and wick holder, with a cover for the reservoir formed with a depressed portion constituting a filling hopper having abottom orice for discharging water into the reservoir, and a top orifice for escape of air.

6. A lstationary tape moistener having a water reservoir and a wick holder, with a drainage channel distinct from and adjacent the wick holder, communicating from the outer end of the latter to the lower part of the reservoir, and adapted to freely drain any moisture flowing from the wick back into the reservoir.

7. A stationary tape moistener comprising a casing forming a water reservoir and wick holder, a rotary part carried thereby having a swinging arm for pressing the tape against the wick, and a non-rotative push spindle having a rotary wedging engagement with said rotary part to turn it.

8. A stationary tape moistener comprising a casing forming a water reservoir and wick holder, a rotary part carried thereby having a swinging arm for pressing the tape against the wick, said rotary part having a spiral slot, and a non-rotative push spindle havingk a pin engaging such slot to rotate said rotary part.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.v

RALPH I; MEADER. 

